Finalists revealed for UK Restaurant Manager of the Year

10th March 2010, 12:07pm

The Academy of Food & Wine has announced the names of the six restaurant managers who have made it through to the final of the UK Restaurant Manager of the Year 2010.

The 2010 finalists are:
Mark Bevan, restaurant manager, Chester Grosvenor, Cheshire
Michele Caggianese, restaurant manager, Galvin at Windows, Hilton on Park Lane, London W1
David Hennigan, general manager, The Crown at Whitebrook, Monmouth
Peter McAlister, brasserie manager, Malmaison Belfast
Paul Shanahan, restaurant manager, Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, Great Milton
Sean Simpson, restaurant manager, Holiday Inn Glasgow

The UK Restaurant Manager of the Year, supported by the National Skills Academy for Hospitality, the Savoy Educational Trust and sponsored by OpenTable.com, aims to find the person who has all the skills required to be a top class restaurant manager - great business acumen, loads of personality and confidence, the ability to get on with people and a thorough knowledge of the trade. 

The winner must also be able to recruit, manage and motivate a team and be a willing ambassador for the front-of-house profession.

The six finalists will compete for the title at the Roof Gardens, Kensington, London, on 17 May. In advance of the final each competitor will prepare a written business plan for a new restaurant launch. 

At the final they will be grilled on their written submissions by the panel of expert judges, who will be looking for evidence of their knowledge and understanding of the business as well as their business acumen. The finalists will also complete practical tasks testing their wine knowledge and general front-of-house skills.

The name of the 2010 UK Restaurant Manager of the Year will be announced at a gala dinner to be held at the Roof Gardens the same evening.

This year's winner will receive a study-tour week in New York, staying at top Manhatten boutique hotel, The MAve, in the Flatiron District to complete a stage at one of Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group properties. The winners' restaurant will also receive a complimentary 12-month subscription to the OpenTable reservation system.

Related Articles:

• 18 May 2010 - UK Restaurant Manager of the Year 2010 revealed
• 25 Feb 2010 - Semi-finalists of UK sommelier of the year revealed
• 04 Nov 2009 - AFW hosts first ever whisky tutorial
• 12 May 2009 - Last call for entries for AFW challenge

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